This Tragic Charade

By Tonyi Amba-Ambaiowei

Inspired by current realities in Nigeria, This Tragic Charade lends a voice to sensitive Nigerian issues like corruption and patriotism with strong sentiments. Poet Tonyi Amba-Ambaiowei was born and raised in Nigeria, so he has had plenty of time to observe its beauties and its horrors, which he now eloquently shares via imagery and verse.

His poems recapture intriguing traditional Ijaw folklore as well as contemporary experiences, illustrated by a selection of art that showcases the truly rich cultural heritage of Africas most populous black nation. The artists featured are masters of their craft, and their works display a variety of contemporary themes with strong visual expressions.

Tonyi is driven by his social conscience and passion for traditional values. He writes to his beloved fatherland, in dire need of patriotic revolution. He writes also to feel better, in memory of the numerous times his hopes were dashed and adversities seemed to reign. Where emotional power meets sensory impact and art meets the written word, This Tragic Charade illuminates a different culture and its customs, in need of remembrance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Oct 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781532004087

Tonyi Amba-Ambaiowei

Tonyi Amba-Ambaiowei is a geophysicist with several years of oil industry experience. He was born and raised in the city of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and started writing poetry as a teen. When not playing with geophysical algorithms or writing poetry, Tonyi spends his time mastering the trumpet and collecting art.

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This Tragic Charade

Copyright © 2016 Tonyi Amba-Ambaiowei.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-5320-0407-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-0408-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016913620

iUniverse rev. date: 10/28/2016

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To Enebi, through whom I saw the need to maximize my potential and rediscovered the zeal to write. This one is for you.

The men who ordain and supervise this show of shame, this tragic charade, are frightened by the word, the power of ideas, the power of the pen.

—Ken Saro-Wiwa

Contents

List of Art Exhibited

Acknowledgements

Part 1: Reawakenings

Arisen Compatriot

A Tribe Called Truth

A Legacy Is Born

After the Ballot Has Been Cast

What the Talking Drum Said

The Legacy Is Withering

Part 2: Untold Stories

Where Ubam River Met Agwagwune

Transit Exchanges

Why She Prayed for the Rains

Barbarian Obituary

To the Misfortunes of Fate

Abode for the Disturbed

Part 3: Waterside Tales

The Makings of You

Terra Firma

Awigiri

Fisherman Creek

Falana

Egbelegbele

Part 4: Sentimentalities

Near Misses

Is It Love?

Fields of Innocence

The Epitaph of Words Unspoken

Prescription: You

My Woman

Part 5: Edifications

Devil’s Brew

When Adversities Seem to Reign

Understanding the Seasons

What Is Faith?

Melody of Conquest

This Love

Part 6: Dedications

The Atele

I Laugh at Things That Make Me Cry

Her Mesh

Glossary of Non-English Terms

Glossary of Phrases in Nigerian Pidgin English

List of Art Exhibited

Part 1: Reawakenings

Image 1: Girl in Green Scarf